Interesting thing about body armor plates in a war zone , In Ukraine , the soldiers are not wearing them for bullet protection , they are wearing them for protection from shell and grenade fragments . Deaths and injuries from shrapnel have dropped dramatically if they are worn , deaths from bullets remain about the same , with or without . They are using the AK rifle grenades there liberally , known as VOGs , the hit the ground , and like a bouncing betty , jump up a few feet ….then explode , Both sides have an automatic grenade launcher , looks like a belt fed machine gun , and instead of cartridges , they are VOGs .